Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
China begins relocating some West Sea structures
Sunlan No. 2, a structure installed by China in the Provisional Measures Zone in the West Sea, is seen in this photo released by Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea, Oct. 22, 2025. Courtesy of Rep. Yi Byeong-jin
By Lee Hae-rin
China said Tuesday that it was relocating maritime structures it had installed in overlapping waters of the West Sea between China and Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul welcomed the move as a “meaningful step forward.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in a press briefing that “a Chinese company is currently carrying out work related to moving a management platform.” Guo added that the move is “an arrangement autonomously adjusted by the company in line with its own operational and development needs.”
China installed the Shenlan 1 and 2 structures in 2018 and 2024, respectively, in the Provisional Measures Zone of the West Sea, where the exclusive economic zones of Korea and China overlap. In 2022, it dispatched an oil drilling ship to manage these facilities.
President Lee Jae Myung said on Jan. 7 that the Chinese side had expressed its intention to withdraw some facilities related to the West Sea structures, which have become a source of tension between Korea and China. His comments came two days after his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
China’s remarks appeared aimed at drawing a clear line against views that the relocation is the result of diplomatic consultations with Seoul or a follow-up step to Korea’s demands, instead framing it as a purely corporate decision.
Korea, meanwhile, responded positively to the move.
“Our government has continued consultations with China on the basis of our opposition to any unilateral installation of structures within the PMZ, and we view this step as a meaningful development,” Kang Young-shin, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Northeast and Central Asian affairs, told reporters, adding that the step will “help advance Korea-China relations.”
Kang added, “Based on the position we have consistently maintained, we will continue to seek further progress going forward.”